Drivers warned to watch out for deer in June

MADISON – Wisconsin transportation officials are warning drivers to be on the lookout for deer.

The WisDOT says June is one of the most dangerous months for vehicle crashes with deer. That’s because the animals are searching for places to give birth and younger deer are leaving their mothers.

Drivers should be especially alert during the early morning and evening hours when deer are most active. You should also remember that deer rarely run alone. If you see one by the road, another one could be nearby.

In four of the last five years, June ranked as the worst or second worst month for injuries from deer crashes, according to WisDOT data.

“The best way to avoid crashes with deer is to slow down and eliminate distractions while you drive. You also need to buckle up in case a crash can’t be avoided,” said David Pabst, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety in a release. “Motorcyclists must be especially careful because collisions with deer can be fatal to motorcycle drivers and passengers. Motorcycles were involved in six of the eight fatal deer versus motor vehicle crashes in 2013.”

There were more than 18,300 vehicle crashes with deer last year. Waukesha County had the most with 809. Dane County had the second most with 786, followed by Shawano County with 748. In Green Lake, Shawano, and Taylor counties, more than half of all reported crashes in 2013 involved deer.